The Home Machinist!

I am currently awaiting the arrival of a chassis from a friend. Its his design that I am going to be building up.

Anyhow I am looking for some journals and have found a few out there but none of them look just right. I have seen one at MDM that looks close but uses 2 springs. Most if not all prototype pics show them only using a single spring. I have also seen one at Cannonball but again just doesn't look quite right. Any suggestions?

Jason

Oh so talked with the designer tonight and received a few drawings. So the journal issue is no longer one. I will be making the ones from the plans. Can't wait to get it in and started on it.

Jason

For my critter I started down that road too, and really liked the prototype in the photo (minus the grime!) I eventually went towards a Davenport, but I hope your engine turns out nice. They sure are, for lack of a better word, "cute!"

So by the looks of things the chassis should be arriving tomorrow or the next day. Can't wait to get started.

Jason

Ok a quick post. Chassis arrived today and plan on having it dry fitted by tomorrow afternoon sometime. Pics to follow.

Jason

Ok here are some pics of the chassis. Did a lot of filing to get the fit of the chassis right. It has been all dry fitted at this point and is ready for welding together. Going to wait till I have the mounting holes for the peds and binders drilled and set for mounting before its all welded together. The side and end plates are 3/8" steel, the Deck is 5/8" steel. It is heavy!

The road to my first loco has begun.

Jason

looking good!

Nice Jay, that's gonna be really neat.

-Mike

Thanks Mike. Hoping to get some of the detailing and building practice I will be needing for my future steam project. Will be great for the wife and kids too.

Jason

Jason,

Do you feel like doing a "double or nothing"? Came across the attached juice motor at the trolley museum across the parking lot from Steamtown RR Museum in Scranton, PA a few weeks about when I was out that way (on a "training" mission). The overhead pole was missing. The pix of your frame materials reminded of this. Those frames might actually fit this lokie. They look nearly identical.

Inside the cab of this juice motor (barely visible)...was nothing more than what looked like a brake wheel. Didn't take a closer look...but I figured that was either the speed controller wheel...or it was a brake wheel. At the very least, you could tell people the wheel was there to help steer the train around sharp curves! Might as well have some fun when you can! Enjoy. Carl B.

Quick update from a long dormant thread. I ordered yesterday the bits to take the chassis to a rolling awaiting electronics stage. Have been crazy busy with work that has kept me away from home for all but the holidays themselves. Also why I have missed a good many meets in that time. So in a few weeks updates will again begin to flow into the thread once the bits are in hand .

Jason

Got some drilling done today on the chassis side plates. Had to sort out some issues with the drill press at my dad's and get a proper X/Y vise for the press. Hoping this week to get a floor model press of my own so I can do this stuff at home when time allows rather than waiting for a day when me and my dad are free to meet up.

Last week my first set of new parts arrived to begin the road to finished loco. I got the chassis drilled and ped binders installed. Hope in the next few days to get the chassis drilled for the peds and get them installed as well. Need to take proper pics for posting tomorrow as my phone was acting up and wouldn't take good pics with the light in the garage/shop.

Jason